Category: Environment

Dhaka to host ministerial summit demanding climate deal

DHAKA – Ministers and representatives from 30 countries, most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, will gather in Dhaka on November 13-14, just ahead of UN climate talks in Durban (COP17). The government is convening the unique global conference of the countries worst affected by the growing climate crisis. The ministerial meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) will see...

Climate change ‘grave threat’ to security and health

Climate change poses “an immediate, growing and grave threat” to health and security around the world, according to an expert conference in London. Officers in the UK military warned that the price of goods such as fuel is likely to rise as...

IFC official to start reviewing investment climate in Bangladesh from Sunday

DHAKA – International Finance Corporation (IFC) will meet its stakeholders from the country’s public and private sectors over the next three days as a senior official starts his visit tomorrow. Pierre Guislain, director of the joint World...

Antarctic lake mission targets life and climate signs

A pioneering British expedition to sample a lake under the Antarctic ice hopes to find unknown forms of life and clues to future climate impacts. The mission will use hot water to melt its way through ice 3km (2 miles) thick to reach Lake Ellsworth, which...

New Zealand: Crews race to pump oil from stricken ship

Salvage teams are racing to extract oil from a leaking container ship stranded off New Zealand, ahead of forecast gale-force winds and swells. The MV Rena has already leaked 20-30 tonnes of oil since it struck a reef in the Bay of Plenty on Wednesday. Officials...

‘Serious questions’ over New Zealand oil spill

A container ship is grounded and leaking oil into New Zealand’s pristine Bay of Plenty, with international crews scrambling to limit the environmental damage and refloat the vessel before it breaks up. The 47,000-tonne Rena ran aground on Astrolabe...

Human waste could be good resources: environmentalists

Human waste (excreta and urine) could be turned into good resources through proper management, according to environmentalists. “Human excreta can be transformed into manures for use in croplands. Such manures are environment friendly and very productive,”...

Venus springs ozone layer surprise

Scientists have discovered that Venus has an ozone layer. The thin layer, which is hundred of times less dense than the Earth’s, was discovered by the European Space Agency’s Venus Express craft, researchers report in the journal Icarus. Until...

8 ‘deer poachers’ held with 25 traps

BAGERHAT :Law enforcers arrested eight alleged deer poachers with 25 traps in the Sundarbans at Dublar Char in Bagerhat Wednesday evening. The arrest and seizure were made during a joint drive by Rapid Action Battalion, Navy, police, Coast Guard, Border...

Sundarbans unsafe for tigers, deer and crocodiles

BAGERHAT- Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, has become unsafe for many animals especially for tigers, deer and crocodiles due to rampant and indiscriminate animal poaching in the last few years. Various groups of people have long been...

Asian tourism fair kicks off

DHAKA – A three-day Asian Tourism Fair was kicked off here Thursday with the participation of 13 Asian countries aiming at conducting combined promotional activities to attract travelers to the exciting tourist destinations of the continent. “Combined...

Fossil beetles show true colours

At their brilliant best, the colours of beetles can make the insects look like they are made of some precious metal. But when these beetles die and become fossilised, how much of that iridescent beauty is preserved? It is a question that has been puzzling...

Climate change may leave Mount Everest ascent ice-free, say climbers

Climbers and custodians of Everest say that rapid climate change could soon make for an ice-free ascent of the world’s tallest mountain. Their warning comes come amid a new international effort to gauge the effects of climate change in the Himalayas...

Draft environment policy proposes ‘polluters pay’

DHAKA – People may have to pay for extensive use of natural resources and polluting the environment beyond a certain level, if a major recommendation of the proposed ‘Environment Policy 2011′ comes into effect for protecting ecosystem. The...

Dhaka for Saarc cooperation to face changing climate

Dhaka has called for urgent cooperation among Saarc nations and suggested massive afforestation in the region to effectively face the emerging climate change challenges. “We must have a clear understanding and take proper steps to face the climate change....

Denmark to continue climate adaptation support

DHAKA:Considering Bangladesh’s vulnerability to global warming, Denmark has assured to continue its support to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change. Danish Ambassador in Dhaka Svend Olling made the assurance while addressing a lecture session...

More than 30 million climate migrants in Asia in 2010, report finds

More than 30 million people were displaced last year by environmental and weather-related disasters across Asia, experts have warned, and the problem is only likely to grow worse as climate change exacerbates such problems. Tens of millions more people...

6.9-tremor from beneath country can cause real damage: experts

DHAKA : There may be widespread destructions in Bangladesh if a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hits the country from beneath its own fault, but the ground-shaking intensity of Sunday’s one was of 4-5 magnitude, seismic experts said on Monday. The US geological...

Fish shrinkage probed in lab

Scientists are starting a novel project to investigate whether overfishing alters fish behaviour and changes their pattern of development. Overexploitation of stocks has already been shown to select for smaller fish. A team reporting at the meeting of...

Govt plans special force to protect wildlife, including tigers

The government plans to set up a special force to protect the country’s wildlife, including the critically endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, and to conserve the forest resources. “The special force will be formed to control crimes in forests. There will...

New species of dolphin discovered

Researchers have determined that dolphins found in southeastern Australia represent a previously unknown species. Around 150 of the dolphins live around the Melbourne area and had until now been assumed to be one of the known bottlenose dolphins. But...